Product container

ABSTRACT

A paperboard container having a lower portion and an upper portion and having two separate means to open the container comprising, a tear strip located around the lower portion of the container and a re-closable top located at the upper portion of the container.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a container for various products in which the container enables the packaging, storing and using the product contained therein.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Disposable containers of the type disclosed herein are well known in the art. They are low in cost and provide a simplified method for packaging and using certain products. Various methods of opening and using these type of containers have been disclosed in patents such as U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,358,176; 5,505,374; and 4,314,642.

Typical methods of opening these containers include a removable tear strip formed by one or more lines of perforations or a top type opening. The opening system of Applicants' container is an improvement over those shown in the prior art, in that it combines at least two separate methods of opening the container and using the container, depending upon the purpose for which the container is opened.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides an improved paperboard container for products which has at least two entirely separate methods of opening the container, depending upon the use to be made of the products in the container. The container comprises a tear strip opening and a gable top opening, both of which allow the container to be re-closed. The container may also optionally be used by removing the entire upper portion of the container.

The container of Applicants' invention comprises a base panel of generally polygonal shape, a plurality of vertical or upstanding walls or panels, comprising at least two side panels, a front panel and a rear panel, said panels being foldably connected to each other. The container also comprises a bottom of foldable panels attached to the lower end of each of said walls and a re-closable top being formed from foldable panels attached to the upper end of each of said walls. In one embodiment the re-closable top is formed in a generally gable shape. The panels are all foldable to form the gable top of the container.

The plurality of sidewalls and either the front wall or rear wall, or both, all contain tear strips, defining a lower portion of the container below said tear strips and an upper portion of the container above said tear strips, in which all, or less than all, of the tear strips may be removed to allow the upper portion of the container to fold back from the container, giving access to the full area of the lower portion of the container or in which the upper portion is removed entirely from the container.

In one embodiment the top of the container is foldable to a gable shape, with a slot and a tab, for forming a narrow opening across the top of the container and, by placing the tab through the slot, the gable top to the container may be re-closed.

The purpose of having the unique feature of the choice of using either the tear strip or the gable top opening is giving the choice to the consumer how they wish to use the product in the container. For instance, if the container contains cereal, the consumer may want to use the tear strips to either open the container and fold back the top in a hinged manner, or remove the entire upper portion, in either case, to pour milk into the container in order to eat the cereal directly from the container. On the other hand, if the consumer wishes to simply remove a portion of the cereal and save the rest for later, he or she can open the re-closable top, pour out or remove a portion of the cereal and close the container for later use.

There are many other instances in which the choice of fully opening the container or providing a limited opening which is closeable, and having that choice, is a unique advantage of the container of this invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the -container in its closed state;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the container with the gable top opened;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the container with one side tear strip being pulled open, exposing the inside of the container;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the container with the tear strips on three sides removed and the container opened; and,

FIG. 5 is an illustration of a cardboard blank for making the container according to this invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to the drawings there is shown in FIGS. 1-5, a preferred embodiment of the container 10 of this invention. Container 10 has a substantially rectangular base panel 12 made up of foldable sections 14, 16, 26 and 28.

Side panels 18 and 20, front panel 22 and back panel 24 make up the vertical panels of the container. Bottom panels 26 and 28 fold along with bottom panels 14 and 16 to form the base 12 of container 10.

Extensions 30, 32 and 34 are respectively foldably connected to base panel 26, to rear panel 24 and top panel 36 and are foldable along score line 38. Bottom panels 14, 16, 26 and 28 are foldable on score line 40 and top panels 36, 42, 44 and 46 are foldable along score line 48.

The gable top is formed from panels 36, 42, 44 and 46 and the slot closure is formed from panel 48, having slot 50, and extensions 52, 54 and 56. The panels and extensions are foldable along score line 58. Panel 54 has tab 60 which fits into slot 50 to reclose the gable top after it has been opened.

As shown in FIG. 2 the gable top is formed by panels 42 and 46 foldable inwardly along score lines 62, 64, 66 and 68.

Shown in FIG. 3 is pull tab 70 which has been partially pulled away from side panel 18.

Referring to FIG. 4 there is shown the container in which tear strips 70, 72 and 74 have all been pulled away from container 10 and the container is in an open position, the upper portion foldable across back 24. Tear strips 70, 72 and 74 may be one continuous strip that runs from the side across the front and the other side of the container or may consist of three separate pull tabs, one for each side and one for the front of the container. Tear strip 70 is removed with the use of lift tab 76. If tear strip 75 is also optionally pulled off (not shown), the entire upper portion of container 10 would separate and container 10 could be used without an upper part.

As can be seen in FIG. 2, instead of removing a tear strip, the container may be opened through the gable top. When the container is full with a product enclosed, it is sealed by adhesive and the gable top is sealed by flap 78 of panel 48 being attached by adhesive to panel 54.

The containers of this invention are generally made of cardboard, similar to a milk carton, and often have a wax coating or a polymer coating on the cardboard, such as polyethylene or polypropylene. The containers may be made in any size depending upon the product to be contained therein. While the container was discussed for use with cereal above, another possible use, as an example, is to contain catsup or mustard or other condiment for use in fast-food restaurants. For instance, condiments are often now served in a very small plastic pouch which must be torn opened and the condiments squeezed out. Because of that, there is no container for the condiment once it is squeezed out of the plastic container and so the consumer usually squeezes the condiment either directly onto the food or, if used for instance for dipping French fries, simply places the condiment on a piece of paper or the packaging that the French fries came in, which is not a clean or acceptable way of using the condiment. With Applicants' invention, a somewhat larger amount of condiment may be contained, and for instance with French fries, the gable top opened and the French fries dipped into the condiment, which is a far superior way of eating French fries dipped into catsup, than is now used. If the condiment is not completely used the consumer may close the gable top and take the condiment to another location or to home. On the other hand, if the consumer prefers to have the container open wider to access the condiment, he or she may pull the tear strip around three sides, pull the container top open and the condiment is still contained in the container, which is a far more acceptable and clean way to use the condiment for dipping French fries or other food items. The top may then be folded back over the container, if desired. Optionally the entire upper portion may be removed and the container used in that manner.

Examples of food items that are particularly suitable for this container are catsup, mustard, mayonnaise, syrup, yogurt, jelly, peanut butter, hot sauce, salt or pepper, and various candies. Other types of food include liquids, small fruit, raisins, school lunch supplies and earthquake safety supplies.

Other products may also be packaged, stored and used in the container of this invention, including, but not limited to, oil products, paint products, cleaning products, powders, cement, nuts and bolts, etc.

The container of this invention may come in any convenient size, from about 10 cubic centimeters to about 100 cubic centimeters and may have taller or shorter vertical sides, depending upon the exact use to be made of them.

While the top closure method described uses a tab and slot for re-closing, other methods may also be utilized.

Having thus described the invention, 

1. A paperboard container having a lower portion and an upper portion and having: two separate means to open the container comprising, a tear strip located around the lower portion of the container and a re-closable top located at the upper portion of the container.
 2. The paperboard container of claim 1 in which the tear strip is located around the entire lower portion of the container.
 3. The paperboard container of claim 1 in which the tear strip is located partially around the lower portion of the container.
 4. The paperboard container of claim 1 in which the re-closable top comprises a gable top.
 5. The paperboard container of claim 4 in which the re-closable gable top comprises a slot and groove closure.
 6. The paperboard container of claim 1 in which the container comprises a plurality of vertical standing walls, each of which has a tear strip incorporated therein.
 7. The paperboard container of claim 6 in which the container comprises two side walls, a front wall and a back wall, each of which has a tear strip incorporated therein.
 8. The paperboard container of claim 1 in which the container comprises a plurality of vertical standing walls, all but one of which has a tear strip incorporated therein.
 9. The paperboard container of claim 1 in which the container comprises a plurality of vertical standing walls, having one continuous tear strip around all of the walls.
 10. A paperboard container having a plurality of vertical standing walls, a tear strip in each of said walls defining a lower portion below said tear strips and an upper portion above said tear strips, and having two separate means to open the container comprising, said tear strips and a re-closable top located at the upper portion of the container.
 11. The paperboard container of claim 10 in which the tear strip comprises a separate tear strip for each wall.
 12. The paperboard container of claim 10 in which the tear strip comprises one continuous tear strip.
 13. The paperboard container of claim 10 in which the re-closable top comprises a gable top.
 14. The paperboard container of claim 13 in which the re-closable gable top comprises a slot and groove closure.
 15. A foldable paperboard container having two vertical side panels, a vertical front panel and a vertical back panel, a plurality of bottom panels foldable to form the bottom of the container, a tear strip horizontally aligned in each vertical panel, a plurality of top panels foldable to form a gable top of the container, one of said top panels having a slot therein and a panel opposing said slot panel having a tab adapted to fit in said slot to open and reclose the top of the container.
 16. The paperboard container of claim 15 in which the tear strip comprises a separate tear strip for each vertical panel.
 17. The paperboard container of claim 15 in which the tear strip comprises one continuous tear strip. 